![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Brussels_in_Belgium_and_the_European_Union.svg/640px-Brussels_in_Belgium_and_the_European_Union.svg.png&w=640&q=50)
Brussels and the European Union
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brussels (Belgium) is considered the de facto capital of the European Union, having a long history of hosting a number of principal EU institutions within its European Quarter.[2][3] The EU has no official capital but Brussels hosts the official seats of the European Commission, Council of the European Union, and European Council, as well as a seat (officially the second seat) of the European Parliament. In 2013, this presence generated about €250 million (8.3% of the regional GDP) and 121,000 jobs (16.7% of the regional employment).[4] The main rationale for Brussels being chosen as "capital of the European Union" was its halfway location between France, Germany and the United Kingdom, the three countries whose rivalry played a role in starting the two World Wars and whose reconciliation paved the way for European integration.[5]
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Brussels_in_Belgium_and_the_European_Union.svg/640px-Brussels_in_Belgium_and_the_European_Union.svg.png)